Camera.



E. P. STRATTON.

CAMERA.

Arrmcnlon Hmm mimo, 1913.

L09-921,889.. y Patented June 9,1914.

mlflu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIQND I'. STBATTON, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ALBION S. KELLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAMERA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Application led March 20, 1913. Serial No. 755,713.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, EDMOND F. STRATTON., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of ANew York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cameras, more especially cameras in which pictures may be taken on cards or ferro-types, the latter developed and fixed without removing the same from `the confines of the walls of the u opening 23 is formed, to the interior walls camera.

One object of the present invention is to provide a camera of this character which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction and in which the various parts are located in the most convenient points for the operator.

A further object is to provide a camera of this character in which the pictures may be taken, developed and removed in the shortest possible time.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the detailed description'and the features of novelty will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing illustrating this invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved camera. Fig. 2 is an end view looking from the left of Fig. 1, with the cover plate removed and a portion of the side wall shown in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional end view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, with the door shown open. Fig. 4 is a section taken on lines 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the camera consists of the casing 10 formed with the end wall 11 in which is mounted the usual lens 12 in a suitable opening 13 formed therein, and retained in any suitable manner as by a collar 14 mounted within the opening. A diaphragm 15 having an aperture 16 is mounted on the exterior of the wall, the aperture being opened and closed by'means of a suitable shutter 17 having a thumb piece 18 extending through ya slot 19 in the side wall and adapted for manual operation by the operator. A cover plate 20 having an opening 21 therein in alinement with the lens covers the wall 11 together with the shutter and diaphragm mounted thereon, and is flush with the other walls of the casing.

of which is secured a flexible sleeve member 24 of some suitable opaque, fiexible material through which the operator may insert his hand into the interior of the casing and remove a card from a magazine 25 located at the top of the interior of the casing preferably adjacent to the end wall 11 and closed by a downwardly swinging door 26. The bottom 27 of this magazine is preferably inclined downward away from its opening so as to readily retain the stack of cards therein. When the operator inserts his hand, he can readily lift the swinging door 26, remove a card from the stack and then place 1t in its frame in proper position to 4take the picture.

The frame is formed at the end of an inclosed chamber 28 which is of a length corresponding to the focus of the lens. This frame is located at the bottom of the casing and slightly to the rear of the opening of the magazine and thus the card, when removed from the latter, is readily inserted into the frame with a natural movement of the hand. At the rear end of the chamber 28 is formed a vertical wall 29 between which and the interior of the side of the casing swings a suitable retaining device adapted to hold the card flat in proper position to be grasped. This retaining device consists of a block, plate, or frame 30, hinged at its lower end to the bottom of the casing and covered preferably with some friction material 81. This friction material is preferably a textile fabric having considera-ble pile as corduroy, plush, etc. The

sides of this block contact the wall 29 and the interior of the adjacent side of the casing and the block is thus frictionally held in any position of adjustment. In Figs. 1 and 4, the card 32 is illustrated as held by the block 30 against thev ends of the walls of the chamber 28 and is thus kept flat and in proper position to be exposed. When the hand of the operator is inserted through the sleeve 24 into the interior of the casing and the Gand is taken from the magazine 25, the block 30 may be readily swung back and the card dropped over the block. The latter may be then swun back in position to hold the card fiat against the ends of the walls of the chamber, as previously eX- plained, the ends of the walls constituting an abutment. To facilitate the dropping of the card in the roper position, the bottom edge of the b ook 30 adjacent to the abutment is beveled as at 33, so that when the block assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, a considerable opening is left between the bottom of the block and the end of the chamber 25, thus allowing the card to readily drop in the proper place. When the card is in the proper position, the shutter 18 may be operated to give the proper exposure to take the picture and then the operator can insert his hand through the sleeve 24, swing back the block 30, remove thecard and drop it in a developing bath. The latter is in the form of a deep, flat trar or tank 34 which is held upon the door` 35 in suitable spring clips 36. To reduce the height necessary for this tray or tank 34, the card ma be dropped on the side instead of upright therein. To facilitate the manipulating of the card for dropping it from an upright to a horizontal position, the wall 29 is preferably formed with a notch 36, so that while the card is bein removed from the position at the end of t e chamber 28, it may be also turned to bring it in a horizontal position whereupon it may be readily inserted over the tank 34 and dropped therein.

The space between the chamber 28 and the farther side wall of the casing may be used for holding a bottle or other receptacle containing the developing solution. When the card has been developed, the solution in the tank 34 may be emptied into the bottle and thus all damage of spilling of the solution is avoided.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a camera. of very simple and inexpensive construction which -may be readily and quickly operated to take a picture upn a card and to developA the same within the confines of the camera casing. All of the operations can be carried on within the casing without necessitating inspection. By the relative location of the magazine, frame and tank, the card can be manipulated with natural movements of fthe hand from the .time that it is removed from the magazine to the time when it is immersed in the developing solution. The card is held fiat while the picture is being taken by simple means, certain in operation, and then the card can be very readily removed and dropped in the developing bath. By reason of mounting the developing tank upon the door, the tank is readily accessible and removable without the liability of spilling the liquid. Moreover, by vreason of the construction whereby the card may be readily turned so as to be immersed in horizontal position, the height of the developing tank is decreased thus reducing the entire bulk of the casing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim l. In a camera, a casing, an objective, a card magazine located within the casing, a framing device for the cardcomprising an abutment, and a swinging member adapted to hold the card against the abutment, said swinging member having frictional means whereby the same is held in position to hold the card against the abutment and also in position to allow the card to be inserted and removed, there being an opening in the casing wherethrough the hand of the operator may be inserted to perform the various operations within the casing and means for excluding light through the hand insertion opening.

2. In a camera, a casing having an aperture through which the hand of an operator may be inserted, means for excluding light through this aperture, an objective, a card magazine within the casing, means for framinor the card to hold it in position to be expose a door in the casing, and a tank mounted upon the door wherein a card is inserted to be developed, said tank being readily removable when the door is opened.

3. In a camera, a casing having an aperture through which the hand of an operator may be inserted, means for excluding light through this aperture, an objective, a card magazine within the casing, means for framing the card to hold it in position to be eX- posed, a door in the casing, spring clips on the door, a tank mounted on the door and held by the spring clips, wherein a card is inserted to be developed, said tank being readily removable when the door is opened.

4. In a camera, a casing having an aperture through which the hand of an operator may be inserted, means for excluding light through this aperture, an objective, a card magazine within the casing, a framing device comprisinlg an abutment, a wall extending adjacent t ereto, and a swinging membei` mounted adjacent said abutment, said swinging member having a friction material thereon contacting said Wall whereby said member is frictionally held in position to maintain the card flat against the abutment and also in position to allow the card to be inserted.

5. In a camera, a casing, an objective, a

, of the swinging member adjacent the abutment being beveledov facilitate the dropping of the card between said member and the Y abutment, there being an openin in the casing wherethrough the hand of t e operator may be inserted to perform the various operationsrwithin the casing and means for excluding light through the handv insertion opening.

6. In a camera, a casing having an aperture through which the hand of an operator may be inserted, means for excluding light through this aperture, an objective, a card magazine, a framing device for the card comprising an abutment against which the card is pressed in position to be exposed, awall extending from one side of said abutvment, a swinglng member between said wall and the interior of the 'side of the casing adapted to hold the card in position, there being a notch in the wall to allow the card t0 be turned while it is removed after exposure, a tank containing a developing solution, the vcard beingdeposited in the tank in the position it assumes after being turned.

7. In a camera, a casin having anA aperture at one end thereof t rough which the hand ofv an operator may be inserted and means for excluding light through this apex ture, an objective, a card magazine located at the interior of the top of the casing, a framing device immediately thereunder and slightly rearwardly thereof, and a tank mounted on the interior of the rearcndof the casing, the card being adapted to be removed rom the magazine and readily inserted into the framing device and then removed from the framing device and dropped into the tank containing the developing solution.

8. In a camera, a casin having an aperture at one end thereof t rough which the hand of an operator may be inserted and means for excluding light through this aperture, an objective, a card magazine located at the interior of the top of thecasing, a

framing device comprising a swinging clampin member to retain the card at while beingexposed, a wall onfone side of the clampin member which it frictionally contacts, sai wall being formedwith a notch to permit the card to be turned as it is being removed from the framing position, and a tank on the interior of the rear wall of the casing wherein the card may be dropped in its turned position.

In a camera, a casing having an aperture through which the hand of an operator may be inserted, means for excluding light through this aperture, an objective, a framing device comprising an abutment, a wall extmiding from .one side of the abutment, and a movable member between said wall and the interior of the side of the casing, said movable member being covered with a textile material having a pile adapted to frictionally contact the wall and side of the casing to maintain the movable member in positlon to clamp a card against the abutment for exposure and also to release the card to allow the same to be removed.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 19th day of March A. D. 1913.

EDMOND F. STRATTON.

lvitnesses NATHAN COHEN, Elmaf V. Hausnr. 

